A call from PM Narendra Modi to the women's team after a loss against Britain, which prevented the team from a bronze medal, made a big difference as the team recovered from the pain, says coach Ankita Suresh.

In an exclusive interview to Asianet Newsable, Ankita Billava Suresh said that the country started to recognize the Indian women's hockey team's potential after the quarterfinals. The coach admitted that everyone thought that after losing in the initial games, no one thought the team would storm into the semifinals.

She says a bit of hard luck resulted in a loss against Great Britain, and just like others, she too wanted the team to win. The team was under sorrow due to the loss, and a post-match call from Indian PM Narendra Modi made a big difference as the team was able to come out of the shock and pain.

Ankita, originally from Coorg, produces the maximum number of hockey players for Karnataka and ensures at least one of two players in playing in the national side. Ankita opined that she represented Karnataka at the Olympics and her next target was to find new talent and groom them.

Ankita also talked about the mental preparations the team had during a pandemic and also before the tournament. She concluded that like Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, other states also must give prominence to developing hockey.

For the first time in Olympic Games history, the Women India Hockey team entered the Semis. How do you feel?
I really feel proud because it was an exciting moment when we entered the semifinals. We created a history that made us very excited.

At one point in time, everyone thought the Indian women's team would win bronze. What do you say?
Unfortunately, we couldn't win the medal but we already..... You know, the PM said that we have won the heart of the Indian people. As a coach, I want to say, winning and losing is a part of the game, but even then, everyone wants to win, we also wanted to win, but I think we had a bit of hard luck in that situation.

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How did you prepare players mentally as the team initially lost?
The main thing and advice is.... we had already planned on what we have to do throughout the tournament. According to the plan, the process was done. This is a learning process, the first three matches we lost, many of them thought that we might not win and stay; that was the mindset. When they entered the quarterfinals and played against Australia, the whole of India changed its mindset. Each and every house is discussing Hockey now. I told the players that everyone is inspired by you.

Will this 2020 Olympic Games and Team India's performance change things for the better for Hockey?
Yes! I agree. Even I heard many players discussing it, and it was all over social media stating that both men and women (Hockey team) inspired them and have given a new lease of life to Hockey now. They (many youngsters) are saying that they also want to play hockey. It makes us feel proud. Now, many of them are also turning towards Hockey from cricket.

For the first time, both men and women Indian hockey team, Karnataka players are missing. What do you say?
This was a pandemic time. We had only SV Sunil's name in the list (failed to make it to the final list for Tokyo). No one was there in the team from Karnataka. The core group was already done. I don't want to give or offer any suggestions, but I want to stress that there may be no one from Karnataka, but at least as a coach, I represented Karnataka. Coorg is a known name for Hockey. I want youngsters to come forward and play for India.

The next process is the talent hunt (from Coorg). That will be the main thing for me now.

PM Modi seems to follow the Olympic contingent and also called players keenly. How do you see this as?
Everyone from the nation is saying that we have done a really great thing. I would like to thank our Prime Minister because, before going to the tournament, he called, during the tournament, he called us, while entering the quarterfinals he called us and again when we lost the semifinals, he motivated us saying that 'everyone is standing by you'. We were actually hurt (due to loss), but the words from him, inspired us and we recovered soon. We met him today (August 16). He told us you rocked it and said, 'Bharath me har jagah aap ke baat chalraha hai' (In India, everywhere you are being mentioned). We have created a big thing (impact), I feel.

The team went to the Olympics at a time when the pandemic was looming large. How did you prepare them mentally?
It was really very hard because of the pandemic. Even our players were also affected. We could not play with other countries (practice matches). Only three countries, New Zealand, Argentina and Germany (we played). We had to play among ourselves. If we had had enough practice matches, it would have been helpful for the players. Few girls were also tested during the pandemic time and mindset as worrying then. But, they were mentally strong and recovered immediately. Only one thing they had in mind is they have come here to play and may undergo all these things but still have to perform.

What do you have to say about the Odisha CM as he is credited for silently backing the national hockey team?
I want to really thank Patnaik ji because he has taken such a great initiative and supported hockey in a great way. Whatever hockey needs, he has ensured it is provided. I think it is from here the motivation was given. Men won bronze (Tokyo Olympics), and the women did really well. We will be thankful as he has supported us in a big way. If other states also do similar efforts, everyone can recognize hockey.

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